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AMERICAN EDITION
The Shanghai Evening Post
and Mercury
$2 a Year
NEW YORK 3 A.M.
LONDON 8 A.M.
NEW YORK, N.Y., OCTOBER 22, 1943
SAN FRANSISCO MIDNIGHT
SHANGHAI 4 P.M.
Vol. I. No. 42
Peipei Opens War Heroes' Model Village
By FREDERICK B. OPPER
CHUNGKING(By Radio) - Twenty-two sleepy Chinese and foreign newspapermen and employees of the Information Ministry climbed aboard a chartered bus here early one morning last week and set off to witness the opening of the first honored soldiers self-government experimental area, 60 miles up the Chialing River at the famous Hot Springs of Peipei.
Late that evening after seven punch-drunk hours on a jolty bus ride that almost jammed their spines through the tops of their heads, they returned the richer for a mass of statistics about this experiment designed to provide homes and work for slightly wounded veterans of China's Army; an inspection tour of the establishment and a close-up view of Generalissimo and Mme. Chiang Kaishek as they formally opened the village.
Peipei is a weekend resort for Chungkingites reached after an uncomfortable three and a half hour ride through magnificent Szechuan scenery. In places the road is carved from the side of a mountain, the Chialing flowing almost directly below 500 feet away. In other places it winds through rich rice paddies and well-to-do villages. In Peipei itself it passes through a town that houses some of the best hotels in Free China, replete with good food, beds and service and offering sulphur baths to tired businessmen and their weekend friends.
Some few miles to the north of the town is the experimental village. It covers about 100 landscaped and cultivated acres lying beside a canal well stocked with fish. Newly constructed buildings - sleeping rooms, dining hall, assembly hall, library, reading room, a cooperative store, open air rest house, shower rooms and barber shop - all neat and clean dot the place. Paths wind through the project. Soldiers in mustard-colored uniforms till the ground growing their own vegetables.
200 Soldiers in Village
At the present time there are some 200 soldiers living in the village chosen by the War Ministry from the base hospital at Wanhsien. Most of the men were wounded in the Sixth War Area which includes the Ichang front and many have been hospitalized for the past two years or more. Ultimately it is expected that the project will house 1000 soldiers and their families.
The aim of the sponsors is to see the village self-supporting and self-governing, the soldiers raising their own vegetables, eating meat from their own animals, catching their own fish, taking eggs from their own chickens, milking their own cows, weaving their own cloth, manufacturing their own small necessities and running their own village with their own self-elected representative.
Handicrafts Will Be Sold
Their handicraft products will be sold - at the village and in Chungking - to bring in money for the communal treasury while the men themselves, still paid their Army wages and given a small allowance in addition, will be able to pay for any small purchases at the cooperative store.
Your correspondent spoke to three of the soldiers. All were farmers before being conscripted, two in Szechuan and one in Kweichow. Two had been wounded at Ichang (Please turn to page 6)
Gauss Tells of U.S. Admiration for China
(Chinese News Service)
CHUNGKING - American entertain the deepest admiration for the Chinese Army and the people of China, said Clarence E. Gauss, American Ambassador to China who recently returned to Chungking, at a dinner given by the Chinese-American Institute of Cultural Relations this week. Dr. H. H. Kung in his capacity as president of the Institute introduced Ambassador Gauss.
The guests of honor at the dinner besides Mr. Gauss were Dr. T. V. Soong, Minister of Foreign Affairs who returned to the capital recently, Dr. T. F. Tsiang, director of the Political Affairs Department of the Executive Yuan who is leaving soon to attend the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration Conference in the United States, and Dr. Lin Yu-tang, who returned to China from the United States for a six months' visit.
Congressional Vote Expected On Exclusion
The Magnuson Bill, repealing Chinese exclusion legislation was passed by the house late this week without a recorded vote. It now awaits Senate action.
With the House of Representatives scheduled to vote this week on the Magnuson bill to repeal all Chinese exclusion laws-and the general belief that the bill is a certainty- organizations and individual of note continued to voice their support of the measure.
The proposal, a companion of which also is before the senate, would permit the entry and naturalization of upwards of 105 Chinese annually.
President's action Hailed
President Roosevelt's endorsement of the move- as a debt this country rightly owes to an ally in war- aroused wide interest in Chungking. The Chinese News Service reported that the people there consider it of especial sig-
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Deadline Nov.1 For reports On Properties
By HENRY CAVENDISH
With only 10 left before the Nov.1 deadline, many former Far Easterners in the United State were busy this week preparing reports on their foreign property holdings for submission to the Treasury Department.
The reports are required of every person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States who had, at the close of business on May 31, 1943, any interest- either direct or indirect- in any property in a foreign country. The reports likewise are required of every person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States who allied with any foreign corporation as of May 31.
Exemption Provided
A a general statement, and with certain exceptions, person whose holdings are under $10,00 are exempted from making the reports. The specific exceptions to this exemption, as set forth in the Treasury Department instructions include
All foreign bonds, regardless of the value, payable by their terms in the Unites States dollars, whether or not alternately payable in another currency.
All interest in allied foreign organizations, patent license agreements, trademark license agreements, franchises and concessions, and certain contracts, regardless of value.
Foreign Property Census
The reports are in connection with the Government's census of property interests in foreign countries owned by the United States citizens. At the same time, it is empahazied that the census does not constitute a registry of claims arising from war losses. A census already has been taken of property in the United States owned by non-citizens or non-residents.
The original authority for the census rests in an Act of Congress of Oct. 6, 1917, under which the Treasury Department issued, over the signature of Acting Secretary of the Treasury Randolph Paul on June 1, 1943, Special Regulation No. 1. This requires that the reports be made on Form TFR-500.
Queries received by .the Shanghai Evening Post and Mercury in New York this week indicated that con-
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Plan Postwar Business Boom in Philippines
The Philippines American Committee on War Damages and Rehabilitation is holding frequent meetings in New York, planning postwar rehabilitation of business in the Philippines. Those concerned include persons with investments on the islands prior to Dec. 7, 1941, who suffered losses as a result of the war with Japan.
The committee was formed last May and sponsored by the National Foreign Trade Council, Inc., and Philippine American Chamber of Commerce, both of new York, and the Philippine-American Assn. of San Francisco.
Aims Outlined
Explaining its aims, a spokesman said:
"The committee realizes that there can be no return to normal business conditions in the Philippines, such as existed prior to Dec. 7, 1941, after the expulsion of the enemy unless means are provided enabling a program of rehabilitation to be carried out. The committee proposes to render every assistance towards accomplishing the purpose"
The spokesman said that the committee functions as a strictly policy-forming group representing private interests involved, and as the instrument through which the individual may seek united action in representations to the government departments in seeking restitutions of, or compensation for, losses and damages suffered.
Executive Committee
He added, However, that the committee is not an agency to handle and negotiate the settlement of individual claims, this being a matter of direct dealing between the
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Free China Living Costs, says Arthur Duff, 50 Per Cent Higher Than Previous 6 Months
It is estimated that the living costs have risen 50 per cent in the last six months, states J.A. ("Arthur")Duff, in a recent letter from Free China. Money can be loaned out at 10 per cent interest per month, which is regarded as equivalent to the rise in costs, or depreciation of the currency, whichever appears more logical. The effect, of course, is the same, states Mr. Duff.
In his letter, Mr. Duff describes conditions in the famine areas on and around Bias Bay, saying:
"People are dying in the streets and along the roads of slow starvation, and now disease is taking its toll, and has already reached this city. (KuKong, where he was living at the Lockwoods' residence.)
Large Scales Help Needed
"The coming winter will be a terrible one unless help on a very large scale is forthcoming from somewhere, and this too is a different problem because of transportation. meanwhile, the Japanese may raid for rice, which will further aggravate the situation. I have personally seen and reported to all the major officials in this part of the country, and expect to press maters in Chungking also.
"All overseas Chinese should do their utmost to get funds to their people and not be misled into thinking that either the UCR or the Government itself have the means or the facilities to take care of the situation. Whole villages and towns are starving.
Bob Smith in Toishan
"Bob smith plans to go with me on the trip to Toishan. Adams is working in Lockwood's place whilst the latter has gone on leave to Kunming for six weeks. Both Smith and Adams are getting a great deal of first-hand information about conditions in China which should enable them to tell people at home so that help may be forth-coming.
"I had a spell of dysentery down in Taipun City. Apart from a touch of malaria on my return, no other ill effects have resulted from the trip, which was one of the most interesting and exciting I have ever had. After leaving the last military outposts, we really got into no-man's land, with picturesque guerillas and tough-looking fisherfolk everywhere. The little harbour of Outou, in Bias Bay, reminds me of the anchorage where I was held up for a week last year, big fishing junks, and little boats, all tied up together in the small anchorage.
We sat in the teashop overlooking the shipping, and were the center of an admiring group of hard-faced boat people of uncertain affiliations and questionable moral standards.
"There is a lot of trade with Japanese-controlled territory, including Hongkong, and most of these people are in constant touch with the Japanese. There is no way of knowing who are spies and who are not. I was against going into the this village but counselled having a boat taken down the shore to meet us on the other side of the headland, whilst we proceeded on foot to that point. Our Chinese companions did not, at first, see the logic, though they later admitted that it would have been better. We went down the coast in a small boat the same way that I cam up last year. (Mr. Duff is referring to his escape from Hongkong.)
Taipun Guerilla Band
"In Taipun, conditions were very bad, with most of the people under-fed or actually starving. Many suffering from beriberi, and Cholera had not yet made its debut at that time. It is rife now
"The guerilla leader from Taipun has been 'transferred' else-
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The Gripsholm was scheduled to leave Mormugao Friday, Oct.22, according to her international Safe Conduct Permit, and as exchange formalities have a proceeded smoothly authoritative sources in Washington stated this week that the Swedish ship could be expected to keep to her schedule. The vessel is expected to reach Port Elizabeth around Nov. 4, Rio de Janeiro about Nov.14, and New York on Dec. 3 or 4.
By DORREN LENNOX
The long awaited second exchange of North and South American nationals of Japanese took place at Mormugao, Portuguese India, this week. After the Japanese asked for - and were granted- an extra day to complete arrangements, the exchange was effected Oct. 19.
The MS Gripsholm, which left New York on Sept. 2, reached Mormugao on Oct. 16, 30 hours later than the Japanese Ship Teia Maru, which left Yokohama around Sept.15 and reached Mormugao on the morning of Oct. 15.
The two ships are expected to leave Mormugao in a few days time, and the Gripsholm should reach New York some time between the beginning and middle of December, while Teia Maru will proceed on the return voyage to Japan.
American Consul First on Board
Press dispatches give details of the arrival of the ships, describing the Teia Maru steaming slowly into the jungle-girt little port at 10:30 on the morning of Oct.15. The repatriates were almost all on deck, as the ship was maneuvered into the dock. They appeared shabbily dressed, their faces bronzed from weeks of sailing in tropical seas, and they were mostly silent.
The American Consul General at Goa, Austin R. Preston and his consular aides, Pau; Ekstrom, chancellor of the Swedish Consulate at Bombay who is representing the Japanese in the exchange; Paul Skyes, Canadian trade Commissioner in India, who is representing the Canadian Government at Mormugao, and International red Cross officials were the first to go abroad the Japanese ship.
Portuguese police and soldiers formed a cordon around several acres of ground flanking the wharf and permitted only authorized persons inside. Capt. Almeida Pinheiro. Portuguese naval officer and director of Mormugao Port, who is acting as delegate for the exchange, went abroad with Mr. Preston
"God Bless America"
As the Gripsolm docked, a group of American Merchantmen aboard =, surrounded by 1500 sober-eyed Japanese, sang "God Bless America."
"We've got what it takes," should one seaman, leaning over the Gripsholm's stern, while Americans on the bow of the Teia Maru 70 yards away yelled and waved handkerchiefs. the two ships were brought end to end in mid-afternoon on Oct. end to end in the mid-afternoon on Oct. 16, and at night searchlights were turned on the vessels while huge cranes carried off the baggage and transferred Red Cross supplies between the liners.
At the Anchor, says a dispatch from Mormugao, the two ships dwarfed the town which consists of only a few warehouses, two dozen one-story offices, an old palace converted into a 15-room hotel, and a deserted fort on the brow of a hill. Mormugao, 260 miles south of Bombay, is a miming town in Goa, set-
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